Improvement in pitchforks



a full, clear,

the head A. The section of A',

along and in V,5ta-ira dew @man @firm RENSSELAER SCHUYLER AND Lette/rs Patent No. 85,699, dated .Tanna/rgb, 1869.

AnvxPRovrm/rr:rrr`In Prrcarfonxs.

Th Schedule referred to in these Letters Patentand making part of ther To all whom 'it l1mi/y concern,

4Be it known that we, RENS WILLIAM CRowNmsHmLn, of the towr of `Seneca Falls, in the county of Seneca, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pitchforks; and we do hereby declare that the following is and exact description of `the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

Our improvement relates to the construction of pitchforks used by hand, and consists inthe means combined to attach and fasten securely the tines of the fork, each made separate fronrthe other, to its handle, in such manner as 'to .be .readily replaced, when required. Y The tines are made in the usual manner and form, except that instead of being fast together at the shank, as ordinarily but not always constructed, they are each made in a separate' piece, with a shank to each tine, formed as described. f'

In the drawings referred to y, Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section in the direction of the line from'D to E, iig. 1 representing the head and SELAER SGHUYLER and l Y parts of the tines and handle in position, as constructed,

and

Figure 3 represents a section of the solid part B of being the same in form, is not shown. The slot C is shown in section in this figure.

The head A A is cast in two equal parts, divided longitudinally through its centre, as represented by the line from D to E, g. 1. One of these parts is shown at A, iig. 2.

The lwer end, B, which receives the shank C of the tine F, is solid, for the distance of about one-fourth part of the length of the head.

A slot runs centrally, in the direction of its length, this solid portion of the head B through it, which is shown in section at C', iig. 3, and with the tine in place at C, iig. 2. This slot is of suitable dimensions to receive the shank C of the tine F.

- The shank fits the slot closely in its whole length,

and isflush with the iiat surface of the solid part of the head, so-that when in position the Shanks of the tines bear firmly on the side of the slots and on each other. A

If more than two tines are used in the fork, the slots are increased in depth, and the diameter of the head is made to correspond with such increase.

lhe divided head A A is of a truncated conical form, when the parts are placed together in position. It may be cast of malleable iron, about four and a halt' inches long, and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter at the lower end', and one inch and a half at the upper, (including the thickness of the ferrules D and E.) of each end of the head corresponding That portion the width of the ferrules D and E is n length with diminished by near the thickness of the ferrules, so as to leave the square shoulders M and N.-

Frorn' the solid part, the head A A extends into a socket, as shown in fig. 2, to receive the handle Gr.

On the inner surface of this socket are slight corrugatiorns, or, about one-twelfth of an .inchfrom the surface, extends around-the inside of the socket. v The tines F F have each a square square, which iit the slot C. y This shank C has a projecting lip, on the solid part of the head, as shown, and is formed to tit the slot, and bear irmly on its sides and on the shank of the adjacent tine.

The ferrules D and E, made of wrought-iron, suitable metal, or cast of malleable iron, are of suitable dimensions to fit their respective bean'ngs on the ends of the head A A'. Their inner diameters are a little less where they bear at the end than at the point shank, or nearly ively, so as to draw when driven on. The `bearings have the like form. A

To put the fork together, the tines F F are placed in position, the shanks in their respective slots, the lip K bearing against the solid part B of the head; the ferrule D is put on over one tine, and the other tine'passed through it; the handle, with the ferrule E on its lower end, is putin the socket bearing against the solid part B the t`wo parts of the head A A' are pressed together and the ferrules driven home, by which the whole is firmly secured in positionA for use.

To repair, the ferrules are started off', and a tinefcan be replaced in a few minutes.

. The advantages of our invention'are in obtaining a rm metallic bearing of the Shanks of the tines, the'enthe socket by means of the flange H, or corrugation, as described; and then facility with which a broken tine may be replaced.

We do not claim any of the separate parts described as in themselves, and separate from their combination, new, or of our invention; but

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,- isy l. The fork-head, cast in two separate parts A and -A, with a flange or corrugation on the inner surface and for the purpose described.

2. The arrangement and combination of the divided fork-head A A' with the ferrules D and E, by which the tines F F are secured upon the handle Gr, in such manner as to be replaced with facility, the whl'e operating as described. y

' RENSSELAER SGHUYLER.

. WILLIAM GROWNINSHIELD. Witnesses: .y BENSON Owen,

A. R. PALMER.

as shown in iig. 2, the flange H, rising' K, which bears 0r other where they bear. at the shoulders N and M respecttire length of such. Shanks; securing the handle G in.

of the socket, constructed and operating in the manner.` 

